RETHINKING LOMBOK– BALI’S LESSER KNOWN, DISCREET NEIGHBOUR COMES INTO ITS OWN

As Bali continues to boom, those seeking unpretentious, rustic charm but with a degree of luxury need only travel twenty minutes away by air to Lombok where the island’s untouched northwest coast is a mecca for remarkable and untainted nature.

What Bali once was, is what Lombok now is – luxury but with an abundance of authenticity. For those seeking a unique adventure, climbing to the summit of Lombok’s largest volcano – Mount Rinjani, hiking through the rice terraces and beautiful waterfalls, and visiting Animist local villages to witness traditional kampong life, are all a must. Ampersand Travel can further arrange a spot of island-hopping via private boat across to three nearby, utterly remote islands: Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis, the latter of which is a new island formed just 25 years ago and offers incredible snorkeling.

With accommodation to suit all types of travellers, Ampersand Travel recommends the hotspots to discover this spectacular island...

Best For...Families: SIRA BEACH HOUSE (6 bedroom villa, sleeping 12)
Sira Beach House combines a series of beautiful bedrooms and thatched living pavilions surrounded by gardens, coconut palms and cabana-style dinning balais. It is fronted by a lovely beach, which is free from touts and perfectly positioned to watch the sun setting over Mount Agung volcano in Bali. For parents travelling with children, the sea here is calm for swimming and snorkeling and the villa itself was built with kids in mind and comes fully stocked with toys and fun activities.
HOW: Ampersand Travel offer 7 nights from £1,340 based on 12 people sharing the villa’s 6 rooms, including B&B accommodation, transfers and flights from London via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Best for...Contemporary Chic: LOMBOK LODGE
The epitome of Ibizan chic but with an Asian twist, Lombok Lodge is a beautifully designed boutique hotel that is built across a hill, providing several different tiered areas to relax and admire the spectacular sea views. The grounds are a tropical paradise - flowering frangipani trees, palms trees and luscious greenery all feature but for guests seeking the ultimate privacy, the lodge’s own speed boat will whizz guests over to their own private stretch of beach on the neighboring Gili Islands. HOW: Ampersand Travel offer 7 nights from £2,165 per person based on 2 people sharing, including half board accommodation (A la carte breakfasts and fine dining dinners, including an ‘Indonesian Rijstafel’ dinner), a 60 minute massage for 2 people, snorkeling and daily boat shuttle to Gili Air, late check-out, all transfers and flights from London via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Best for...Eco-Enthusiasts: JEEVA BELOAM BEACH
Situated two hours from the airport in the remote and untouched southeast of Lombok, Jeeva Beloam is one of Indonesia’s most exciting new eco resorts. For those looking to switch off in a place of ravishing natural beauty, this is the real deal: there is no phone signal or wifi so provides the ultimate escape from modern life whilst still enjoying delicious locally-sourced food, great service and stylish accommodation. There are just 11 wooden chalets spread along the bay, which have been simply but smartly decked out in paired black style, situated just a few steps from the pristine white sand.
HOW: Ampersand Travel offer 7 nights from £1,650 per person based on 2 people sharing, including full board accommodation (breakfast, lunch and dinner), a choice of activities (Snorkeling, Kayaking, Soft trekking, Bicycling), transfers and flights from London via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Best for...Seclusion and A Room with a View: MALIMBU CLIFF VILLA (4 bedroom villa, sleeping 8)
Malimbu Cliff is ideal for those seeking total seclusion, utterly sublime views and contemporary chic interiors. Like something out of a James Bond movie, the villa hugs a grassy hillside above Lombok’s dramatic, virtually untouched western coastline. Its 18-metre infinity pool, which appears to drop straight into the ocean, is the villa’s piece de resistance while other highlights include a sunset- facing master bedroom with its own pool balcony, seaview bathtubs and vibrant pieces of art scattered throughout the house. The villa comes complete with chef, butler and housekeepers to ensure every need is catered for.
HOW: Ampersand Travel offer 7 nights from £1,335 per person based on 8 people sharing the villa’s 4 rooms, including B&B accommodation, transfers and flights from London via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Best for...Boho chic: HOTEL TUGU
This beautiful ethnic, boho-botique hotel is privately owned and located on Tugu – the finest and largest beach in this area of Lombok. Set on the curve of the bay, what makes Tugu Lombok so brilliant is the superb sunrise views of the island’s Mount Rinjani volcano. The hotel’s owner is the biggest antique collector in Indonesia and when his collection became too big for his warehouse, the Tugu hotel was built to house to share his passion for art, history and romance of Indonesia with outside guests.
HOW: Ampersand Travel offer 7 nights from £1,427 based on 2 people sharing including room- only accommodation, welcome relaxation massage, daily high tea with homemade cookies, transfers and flights from London via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Best for...Home From Home: THE ANANDITA (4 bedroom villa, sleeping 8)
The Anandita is the embodiment of ‘tropical paradise’. This villa is shrouded in luscious garden and colorful flowers - frangipani, bougainvillea and towering palm trees backing on to a white sand beach with sunset views of Mount Agung in Bali. The villa is home to a stunning curvy swimming pool with several shaded alcoves to lie in and read a book. The cool living room features a pool table, funky lights and oversized Asian furniture while the dining room is a breezy pavilion decorated with statues and offering beautiful views over the gardens and the lily pond. There is also a beachside balé for sunbathing, cocktails or candlelit beach BBQs.
HOW: Ampersand Travel offer 7 nights from £1,520 per person based on 8 people sharing the villa’s 4 rooms, including B&B accommodation, transfers and flights from London via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Best for...Art & Design Aficionados: VILLA SAPI (5 bedroom villa, sleeping 10)
Villa Sapi is a masterpiece of design backed by the white sands of Sira Beach, boasting sensational sunset views. Conceived by Canadian architect David Lombardi, the villa embraces a futuristic concept and is filled with conceptual artwork, funky furniture and curved structures which feel very 60s. The villa further boasts three swimming pools plus a children’s pool, a stand-alone two- bedroom guesthouse, a tennis court and a team of staff to provide gourmet cuisine and attentive service.
HOW: Ampersand Travel offer 7 nights from £1,470 per person based on 10 people sharing the villa’s 5 rooms, including B&B accommodation, transfers and flights from London via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Best for...Charm & Great Value – JEEVA KLUI
A boutique beachside resort with a charming vibe, Jeeva Klui is home to 35 suites and villas including 18 one and two storey beach house suites, 8 two storey garden suites, 5 pool villas and 4 one storey 1-bedroom villas with private pool. Each has been designed in traditional Sasak Lombok style with a pared-back, contemporary feel. Wood and stone pathways cross the resort and at its centre is the breezy Waroeng restaurant. The resort group was founded upon environmentally and socially responsible principles, and was built in an ecologically friendly way using materials such as bamboo, terracotta, recycled timbre and stone.
HOW: Ampersand Travel offer 7 nights from £1,421 per person based on 2 people sharing, including B&B accommodation, transfers and flights from London via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Best for...Wedding Parties: SEPOI SEOPI (6 bedroom villa, sleeping 12)
Sepoi Sepoi is a slick private villa with six large bedrooms, situated on Sira beach offering direct sunset views over Bali’s volcano, Mount Agung. Features include a large open-sided living pavilion, dining pavilion, media room and a stunning swimming pool between the villa buildings and the beach. The villa grounds are vast, stretching across manicured lawns and down to the beach where there is an area of sand shaded by coconut trees and makes the perfect spot for candlelit beach dinners.
HOW: Ampersand Travel offer 7 nights from £1,395 per person based on 10 people sharing the villa’s 5 rooms, including B&B accommodation, transfers and flights from London via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.

Best for...Classic Old School: THE OBEROI LOMBOK
Located in sleepy pristine northern Lombok, The Oberoi is set on a coconut plantation next to the island’s best 18-hole golf course. Spacious thatch-roofed villas and terraced pavilions are scattered across 24 acres of tropical gardens that lead to a private golden sand beach and crystal turquoise water. The infinity pool is dazzling, while award-winning spa is ideal for a spot of R&R.
HOW: Ampersand Travel offer 7 nights from £1,940 per person, based on 2 people sharing, including B&B accommodation, transfers and flights from London via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.